Minnie Driver Saves 'Emily in Paris' Season 5 From Total Boredom

Netflix’s Emily in Paris is perhaps the most static series in all of streaming. A nuclear war could break out at the same time aliens invade, and Emily in Paris would still be about how Emily (Lily Collins) stumbles her way from boyfriend to boyfriend, making gigantic mistakes that somehow turn out to be brilliant, job-saving ideas. It’s some of the least compelling television ever created. The only thing that saves this season from total boredom is the addition of Princess Jane, a hilarious “palazzo-poor” socialite played with zippy, quippy perfection by Minnie Driver. The moment she swanned onto the scene with drolly tossed-off bon mots and a fabulous outfit, I knew she was the reason to watch this season.

Even with the fifth season’s relocation to Rome, nothing much has changed. Emily’s main goal is to drag boutique Italian cashmere brand Muratori into the 21st century by giving it an Instagram account. The Muratori matriarch, Antonia (Anna Galiena), resists all this modernization out of fears that it will compromise her brand’s quality. Her son, Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini), is Emily’s boyfriend of the season, which means Emily’s kinda-sorta dating her boss. Emily’s ex/friend, Alfie (Lucien Laviscount), strikes up a flirtation with Mindy (Ashley Park), who’s in Rome to do an Italian dance competition. They’re both doing better than Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), who skulks in Roman shadows, stalking Emily. The man needs a hobby.

All of this feels like kids’ table nonsense when you compare it to what Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) and Princess Jane are up to. Princess Jane is Sylvie’s friend, confidant, and guide to being fabulous in Rome. Sylvie could use the help because this season, she’s wrestling with her past. Rome was where she came to make it as a film director, and a perfume ad gives her the chance to relive that dream. Sylvie’s also caught between her husband and her Italian lover, Giancarlo. Princess Jane is a straight shot of fun with advice like, “Have fun Saturday night, confess Sunday morning. Clean slate.” Words to live by. Someone get her a book deal! The people need her wisdom!

Princess Jane, aka Principessa Gianna, is the type of amazing side character that, when played by a charismatic dynamo like Driver, easily runs away with whatever scene she’s in. She feels like she just walked out of an episode of Absolutely Fabulous, and it’s exactly the kind of energy Emily in Paris needs. She moves through the world with an outrageous confidence that feels refreshing when compared to Emily’s frightened hummingbird energy. It’s so much more fun to watch Jane devour the scenery in a bright green zebra-striped number with pointed shoulders. While Emily and her severe new bob are sitting through miserable double-dates with Marcello, Mindy, and Alfie, Jane is throwing a wonderfully tacky funeral with a coffin cover in ads. Sure, they’re both ridiculous, but Jane’s the one I actually want to see.

This isn’t the first time Minnie Driver has come by to elevate a TV show. Her turn on Serpent Queen as a wonderfully wicked Queen Elizabeth I had a similar energy. Although Princess Jane is infinitely kinder, both characters light up whatever scene they’re in with crackling wit and energy. Scenes without her in either show suffered from the absence.

Emily in Paris is a second-screen series made to receive just half the viewers’ attention, but whenever Princess Jane appears, it gets all of mine. Given how the series ends, it looks like Princess Jane will be back, but Netflix hasn’t announced a renewal just yet. If not, please get Minnie Driver back on our screens as soon as possible. Watching her play a rich loon reminds us all how much we love and miss her.